A hero is a figure that we can identify with as humans while having someone to look up to. He/She is a representation of everything that is possible when you decide to overcome an obstacle in your life. Heroes are the best and worst of us, shown in all their liminality. The ability to cross boundaries that we, as ordinary humans, cannot cross (or are unwilling to) exemplifies what it means to be a hero. Our limitations manifest throughout a hero's journey into and beyond the unknown. The only hero capable of surpassing all human limits is Heracles of Greek myth and it is thanks to this that he attains divinity after death (Martin 145). It is important to note that once a hero crosses this line between god and human, he is no longer truly human but is in fact a god. This puts him out of touch with reality and makes it more difficult to relate to him. As such, Heracles is not the best hero of ancient myth with whom to associate Aladdin. The hero of the film Aladdin is Aladdin and he fits Joseph Campbell's model of a hero. This relatable character shows us that heroes are not all-powerful, but are willing to make sacrifices for others that most others wouldn't do. This is an important distinction between a hero and a normal person: sacrificing yourself without worrying about accolades or rewards. Aladdin demands no reward for saving Princess Jasmine and the palace, but is rewarded when Jasmine chooses to marry him, flaws and all. All heroes experience some sort of journey, as Joseph Campbell's mono-myth model shows. Aladdin is no exception, which is part of the film's appeal. First, a little backstory must be provided if one is to follow Aladdin's journey. Aladdin is a street "rat" in the middle of paper...... yes, there are enemies that can be named, like in times of war. A soldier in an army may view the opposition as an enemy and his comrades as his friends and family. He/she must defeat the enemy to survive. These trials make heroes of each of us. Without them, there would be no tests to bring out a person's character and the world would be a boring place to live. Aladdin shows us that being ourselves and using our brains to overcome any situation we find ourselves in can bring great rewards. Our elixir could be a new job to keep our bills paid, achieve great success, or sweep away a loved one (as shown in Aladdin). Aladdin's epic journey is entertaining and filled with lessons that can be applied to everyday life. Just apply the lessons learned from this movie to their own lives to see how it will affect them..